Sardinian emigration, a growing phenomenon that does not stop: the study in Iglesias

The migratory flow by Sardinians does not stop, but changes face. It is not just a matter of moving from the inside towards the coasts or the main cities, but a real movement to leave the island.

What used to be called the "donut" phenomenon no longer exists. "It was a definition given a few years ago by sociologists and researchers, according to which the countries of the internal area of Sardinia were depopulated because the residents tended to go and live along the coasts - explains Mauro Carta , 48 years old from Gesico to L'Unione Sarda president of the regional center of emigration immigration Acli Sardegna -. Those coastal centers acted as attractors with their opportunities, such as employment. Today, on the other hand, the island has many municipalities that also deal with emigration on the coasts ”.

This is one of the effects that will be explained and deepened tomorrow May 28 in Iglesias (at 9.30 at the municipal cultural center in via Cattaneo 82) on the occasion of the presentation of the " Annual emigration report " drawn up by the Regional Emigration-Immigration Center of the ACLI.

Stefano Corda of the Mutual Aid Industrial Workers' Society will speak; Giuseppe Dessì of the Federation of Sardinian Emigration Associations (Faes); Mauro Carta and Marco Sideri of Crei-Acli Sardinia; Nicola Corda, Alberto Sechi (Mutual Aid Industrial Worker Society), Pierpaolo Cicalò (Fernando Santi Institute) and the mayors of Carbonia and Iglesias Pietro Morittu and Mauro Usai. Some Sardinian emigrants from Europe, the Americas and Australia will be connected by videoconference.

Between depopulation of the territory and actual emigration there are points in common but also differences: "They are two events - says Mauro Carta - which occur simultaneously".

What are their characteristics?

"Small municipalities are depopulated because over time they have lost basic services for what we can define a good standard of living, such as health care, post offices, banks, schools, or the family doctor who for an increasingly elderly population who needs proximity services is a key figure. And again the small shops that sell bread or groceries, and the same bars that have often been real centers of aggregation in the towns ”.

And the families?

"The nuclei, but not only because we are also talking about young people, choose to go to municipalities where there are all these opportunities, including those dedicated to children, where in short there is a real programming".

Who is leaving Sardinia today and where are they going?

"Especially young people, we have seen from the study that we will present tomorrow that there are more and more those who decide to enroll in schools (universities or specialization) in the peninsula or abroad and then remain in Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, and in Germany, France, England. There they find an immediate job placement ".

Are emigrants now more and more graduates?

"We are still in the phase in which qualified young people are leaving, in the period 2020-2021 there were over 1,500 Sardinians who enrolled in other universities and the percentage, as will be seen, has increased over the years: in 2011- 2012 were just over a thousand ".

Is Sulcis one of the areas most affected by the phenomenon?

“Unfortunately, yes, the whole micro-region of southern Sardinia is one of the most involved territories. In Iglesias and Carbonia there has been a sharp demographic decline for over 10 years, but there are other centers that are affected by the negative birth balances and outgoing migratory flows ”.

Can we talk about emigration when we stay in Italy?

“The real emigrants are those who go abroad, but for very practical reasons. Those who stay on the national territory have a whole series of benefits that those who go to another state may not have. An ease of network of services that is not present, for example, in a non-EU country. The young person who arrives in those communities finds a completely different world, another job market with rules and legislation of another type, in short, he must have a great spirit of adaptation and the strength to integrate ”.

What are the Crei-Acli proposals that you will present in Iglesias aim at?

“One of the themes is that of a proposal that we have been making for several years to institutions to encourage the return of young emigrants: an incentive, a program that facilitates their return and rewards them if they decide to invest also in an entrepreneurial capacity. Then a path for other emigrants who live abroad but would like to return to Sardinia perhaps after having been successful or having made a career in other areas of the world. We are conducting an investigation precisely to document these cases of excellence because they could make a great contribution to their land. And, again, we would like to support the creation of co-working in small communities to encourage the transfer of workers who can operate remotely online and would like to live here in Sardinia all year round ”.

There will be a huge demand.

"Very high, but not only from Italians who know the island well because they come on vacation, we also talk about foreign people".

How did you involve Sardinian clubs abroad?

“We have the opportunity to meet periodically for the meetings of the Council for emigration and we are always in contact. We carry out projects together, we propose cultural activities between protection associations and federations of associations abroad, we organize musical or artistic events. In short, we have the opportunity to exchange ideas and proposals that are useful for Sardinians abroad but which together represent a bridge for Sardinia and a mutual enrichment with respect to the various and local cultures ".